Tank background color poll - Page 2

RiOnRoxXx · 06/02/2009, 03:12 PM

Black for me. I used sticker vinyl so I can remove easily if I ever wanted to change it out. Looks good, won't scratch off and removable with little effort.

**note**just makes sure you know how to apply vinyl, since air bubbles may be present. There are some good tips on sticker vinyl forums or a quick google search.

KarlBob · 06/02/2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by euromomtx
Color will come. I just don't scrape the back...

That's how I feel, too. When I bought my 80 gallon tank, it had a layer of black latex on the back. I stripped that right away, because I'm allergic to latex. Since then I haven't missed it. I didn't mind seeing the wall while the coralline grew, and now I like my purple/red/coralline-colored background.

username in use · 06/02/2009, 03:34 PM

Limosine tint for the back of my tank. Makes it look like a piece of black glass.

Rapa Nui · 06/02/2009, 07:16 PM

Thanks for all the opinions. I will go with a black backing. Any thoughts on the most cost effective brand/type...that looks good?

Ronny#66 · 06/02/2009, 07:37 PM

Once coraline algae and other algae's cover the back that few scrape you won't know what color it is.

Ronny

Rapa Nui · 06/02/2009, 09:11 PM

Is the "Water Color" background a good products...and worth the $33.00 for a 72"? Can it be peeled off later?

dwd5813 · 06/02/2009, 10:42 PM

you good at fade painting? one of the coolest backgrounds i've ever seen was a really deep blue at the bottom that faded up into a sky blue color at the top

eb8919 · 06/03/2009, 03:53 AM

I originally tried blue but when i went to a friends house and saw his with black i was instantly jealous of how much the colors popped in his tank compared to mine. Sooo +1 for black.

Whys · 06/03/2009, 03:59 AM

Black; depth and contrast. But lets be honest, its like a black sports car. How often is it gonna be black?

happyclam · 06/03/2009, 02:38 PM

What about a diarama? Makes your tank look even wider as well as if your on a reef. Check this out: http://glassbox-design.com/2008/the-...-breuers-reef/

cwbhawk · 06/03/2009, 03:35 PM

I've always had dark blue tanks, never even tried black.

Sisterlimonpot · 06/03/2009, 04:43 PM

I prefer blue as well. The reason is it doesn't absorb light like black would, so the tank looks more vibrant and allows more light to your corals through reflection.

Larah · 06/03/2009, 05:43 PM

My original 50 gal had bright blue...
I liked it at first but it looked wayyy too fake.
My 100 gal has very dark blue. It's much more realistic
and the dark color makes everything "pop."

stricknine · 06/03/2009, 05:48 PM

Purple coraline vote here!

(On a black background)

Larah · 06/03/2009, 05:54 PM

Well yeah if you do everything right the background is going to turn purple anyway!
Hey I know get a mix of purples and red and use one of those funky roller applicators and it will look like coralline is already on there! I hereby Trademark this idea

WaterKeeper · 06/03/2009, 05:58 PM

Either red or green as I never use RO/DI.

FirstContact · 06/03/2009, 06:15 PM

Red or green sounds like Christmas in June!

I painted my 46g black. My 20g has deep blue and black varnish. I think the deep blue really Rocks on tanks.

Sisterlimonpot · 06/03/2009, 06:22 PM

Personally coralline on the glass just says, "Neglected" to me. However to each their own.

WaterKeeper · 06/03/2009, 06:31 PM

There is some benefit in algae on the back of the tank as it does remove things like phosphates and nitrates. However, if you are in Mr. Clean mode, then it is an eye sore.

Ryan, select stealth paint so the our more experienced reefer will not think you are not maintaining your tank,

Johnny C · 06/03/2009, 07:24 PM

+1 on black window tinting!

I paid like $10 @ Wally World for a 2x6' roll of 2.5% Limo Tint. It took about a half hour to cut/apply but it looks 1000% better than the poster that you tape on, and is actually very durable and easy to remove.

sebrofjr · 06/03/2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by happyclam
What about a diarama? Makes your tank look even wider as well as if your on a reef. Check this out: http://glassbox-design.com/2008/the-...-breuers-reef/

This is exactly what I'm going to try to do as well. Rappa Nui, you have tonnes of room to do this as well if you wanted. I think alot of people paint them because there is crap behind them, or its in a cabinet etc.., if its a open space or fish room beind it, I think you can be more creative than just paint.

Agu · 06/03/2009, 07:44 PM

As a general observation most aquarium equipment/overflows are black or grey. A black background helps better blend in the hardware and makes it less noticable.

I've also used the window tint and it works, but with bright lighting cords and equipment still shows through the back of the tank.

One of these days I'm painting the back of a tank fuschia or magenta just so I can be the contrary voice on threads like this

.

Indymann99 · 06/04/2009, 09:23 AM

I went with Black

bigworm175 · 06/04/2009, 12:40 PM

I had blue on my first 20 gal. and then black on my 37 gal. I prefer the look of the blue and went with it on my 120 gal. But my stand and canopy are black so its good contrast. Anyone try any other colors?

Mrs. Suzy Smith · 06/04/2009, 07:49 PM

I think black gives a good contrast to the color..but dark blue gives it that nice "deep blue sea" effect

06/02/2009, 03:34 PM	#28
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Limosine tint for the back of my tank. Makes it look like a piece of black glass. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

06/02/2009, 10:42 PM	#32
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	you good at fade painting? one of the coolest backgrounds i've ever seen was a really deep blue at the bottom that faded up into a sky blue color at the top __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

06/03/2009, 03:53 AM	#33
eb8919 Reefaholic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 542	I originally tried blue but when i went to a friends house and saw his with black i was instantly jealous of how much the colors popped in his tank compared to mine. Sooo +1 for black. __________________ A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. -A. Einstein

06/03/2009, 03:35 PM	#36
cwbhawk Junior at Iowa State Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa Posts: 148	I've always had dark blue tanks, never even tried black. __________________ I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image I must first change myself. Fish are friends not food. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tank that I move back and forth from school with me!

06/03/2009, 04:43 PM	#37
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I prefer blue as well. The reason is it doesn't absorb light like black would, so the tank looks more vibrant and allows more light to your corals through reflection. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

06/02/2009, 03:12 PM	#26
RiOnRoxXx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Manteca, CA. Posts: 2,370	Black for me. I used sticker vinyl so I can remove easily if I ever wanted to change it out. Looks good, won't scratch off and removable with little effort. notejust makes sure you know how to apply vinyl, since air bubbles may be present. There are some good tips on sticker vinyl forums or a quick google search.

06/02/2009, 07:16 PM	#29
Rapa Nui Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 23	Thanks for all the opinions. I will go with a black backing. Any thoughts on the most cost effective brand/type...that looks good?

06/02/2009, 07:37 PM	#30
Ronny#66 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Twilight zone Posts: 1,839	Once coraline algae and other algae's cover the back that few scrape you won't know what color it is. Ronny

06/02/2009, 09:11 PM	#31
Rapa Nui Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 23	Is the "Water Color" background a good products...and worth the $33.00 for a 72"? Can it be peeled off later?

06/03/2009, 03:59 AM	#34
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Black; depth and contrast. But lets be honest, its like a black sports car. How often is it gonna be black?

06/03/2009, 02:38 PM	#35
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	What about a diarama? Makes your tank look even wider as well as if your on a reef. Check this out: http://glassbox-design.com/2008/the-...-breuers-reef/

06/03/2009, 05:43 PM	#38
Larah Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 1,932	My original 50 gal had bright blue... I liked it at first but it looked wayyy too fake. My 100 gal has very dark blue. It's much more realistic and the dark color makes everything "pop."

06/03/2009, 05:48 PM	#39
stricknine Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 989	Purple coraline vote here! (On a black background)

06/03/2009, 05:54 PM	#40
Larah Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 1,932	Well yeah if you do everything right the background is going to turn purple anyway! Hey I know get a mix of purples and red and use one of those funky roller applicators and it will look like coralline is already on there! I hereby Trademark this idea

06/03/2009, 05:58 PM	#41
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Either red or green as I never use RO/DI. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

06/03/2009, 06:15 PM	#42
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	Red or green sounds like Christmas in June! I painted my 46g black. My 20g has deep blue and black varnish. I think the deep blue really Rocks on tanks. __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

06/03/2009, 06:22 PM	#43
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Personally coralline on the glass just says, "Neglected" to me. However to each their own. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

06/03/2009, 06:31 PM	#44
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	There is some benefit in algae on the back of the tank as it does remove things like phosphates and nitrates. However, if you are in Mr. Clean mode, then it is an eye sore. Ryan, select stealth paint so the our more experienced reefer will not think you are not maintaining your tank, __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

06/03/2009, 07:24 PM	#45
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	+1 on black window tinting! I paid like $10 @ Wally World for a 2x6' roll of 2.5% Limo Tint. It took about a half hour to cut/apply but it looks 1000% better than the poster that you tape on, and is actually very durable and easy to remove. __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

06/03/2009, 07:44 PM	#47
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	As a general observation most aquarium equipment/overflows are black or grey. A black background helps better blend in the hardware and makes it less noticable. I've also used the window tint and it works, but with bright lighting cords and equipment still shows through the back of the tank. One of these days I'm painting the back of a tank fuschia or magenta just so I can be the contrary voice on threads like this . __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

06/04/2009, 09:23 AM	#48
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	I went with Black __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

06/04/2009, 12:40 PM	#49
bigworm175 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 418	I had blue on my first 20 gal. and then black on my 37 gal. I prefer the look of the blue and went with it on my 120 gal. But my stand and canopy are black so its good contrast. Anyone try any other colors?

06/04/2009, 07:49 PM	#50
Mrs. Suzy Smith Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 55	I think black gives a good contrast to the color..but dark blue gives it that nice "deep blue sea" effect